My Kind of Country

A love of bluegrass and country runs deep for Nathan Stanley, the eldest grandson of bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley. Judging from the cover of his new album, his love of Elvis runs deep, too. For this precocious teen, country music doesn’t mean the latest Taylor Swift pop confection or Carrie Underwood power ballad. Instead, a host of venerable artists joins in on some of country’s most definitive compositions. Vince Gill lends a high lonesome tenor to the Stanley Brothers classic “The White Dove,” Marty Stuart and Connie Smith guest on Lefty Frizzell’s “Long Black Veil” and Patty Loveless joins him on Hank Williams’ “You Win Again.” Not that he needs guests; Nathan carries his own weight on Johnny Cash’s “I Still Miss Someone.” He’s not, however, as convincing on more sensual material, such as his take on Conway Twitty’s “I’d Love to Lay You Down.” Still, Nathan’s smooth, refined vocals are worthy of carrying on the Stanley name. Now if he can just find his own image.